First round best of 9 legs 31 May — 1 June [15] [16]. Second round 2 June [17]. Thanawat Gaweenuntawong and Attapol Eupakaree will probably succeed if their aim is to make Wayne Mardle trip over his own tongue.

Taking out a genuine title contender might be beyond them. Australia, who lost the final in the most dramatic of fashions, will be desperate for another crack at glory.

Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson are both excellent. But they both have the same knack to go horribly off the boil, as evidenced by a dismal defeat to Russia a year ago.

The top seeds should be the favourites. Somehow, the world numbers two and four have never settled at the World Cup, despite finishing runners-up once.

Last year, the Scots blew their big chance at the first hurdle, beaten stunningly yet convincingly by Singapore.

Wright has had a wretched , and Anderson went missing at the Premier League play-offs. Yet the Dartan Army will be backing their men to the hilt.

Given their obvious talents, this tilt at glory could be the one that sticks. First up is the USA, and another familiar line-up.

Larry Butler and Darin Young had a battle on their hands to secure their spots this year. The newly crowned German Darts Masters champion rounds off the Thursday session.

Mensur Suljovic maintains his record of appearing at every World Cup. Having been partnered by Rowby-John Rodriguez at the last four events, this time Zoran Lerchbacher steps into the number two role.

Asada was the first opponent felled by Rob Cross on his way to becoming world champion at the Ally Pally. Again, time will tell.